The Experiences of Unappointed Female Teachers Returning to Their Parents' Homes After Graduation

ABSTRACT Objective This qualitative study investigated the experiences of unappointed female teachers who returned to their parental home after graduation and how their lives changed in light of gender roles. Background In Türkiye, 572,019 pre‐service teachers who graduate from a faculty, take annual public employment exams, and remain unemployed or work in insecure jobs are referred to by the media as “unappointed teachers”. Methods In the semi‐structured interviews conducted for this purpose, 17 female participants who graduated from the faculty of education (graduates from 2023 and earlier) were single, lived in their parents' homes, and had not yet been appointed, shared their experiences and how they perceived the changes in their lives in this new process. Results and Conclusion Thematic analysis of the interview data revealed four themes: the housewife trap, from campus freedom to house arrest, forced marriage, and the search for a way out. The findings showed that the participants' experiences were determined by gender and that waiting at home in a patriarchal society poses risks for women. Implications In areas of Türkiye where traditional and patriarchal values prevail, women feel the pressure of gender roles. One of the best ways to reduce this pressure is to empower women by increasing their participation in education and employment, ensuring their active participation in working life shortly after graduating from university.